Citizens of the Western Balkan countries will have to obtain a travel permission through Internet request before traveling to the Schengen countries, and they will have to pay 7 EUR for each request.

The ambassadors of EU confirmed the agreement reached by the Presidency of the Council and representatives of the European Parliament regarding the proposal on European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

The system will be applied on third-country citizens who are exempted from the visa regime.

The data stated in the request will be automatically compared to the EU the Interpol databases, with the aim to determine whether there is a possible reason for refusing the request for travel permission.

In case that there is no matching or elements for further analysis, travel permission will be issued automatically and in a short period of time. This is expected for the majority of submitted applications.

Travel permission will be valid for three years or until the expiration date of the travel document noted in the application.

Travel permission does not automatically mean that the applicant will enter or stay, but the final decision will be made by the officer on the border.

Andrej Gajic is a 27-years old scientist working on fish pathology, anatomy and ecology – born in Jajce, SFR Bosnia and Herzegovina. Currently, he is PI of the Shark Tales project for the National Geographic Society and General Director of the Center for marine and freshwater biology Sharklab ADRIA - » read more